SUNDAY (23)
MONDAY (24)
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
9:00AM-12:00PM
10:00AM-4:00PM
1:30
7:00PM
7:00PM-10PM
IHN Begins
Grand West Assn.
Fall Meeting, Lakeview
Office Open
Men’s Club
Thrifty Treasures
Ginnie Gould Funeral
Yoga
Bridge Club
This Week at East
PRAYER CONCERNS:
Please keep these individuals and their families in
your prayers….
Sandy Wagner
Jim Pierson
Sally Ambrose
Allen Cox
Bob Slupe
Bob Flink
Doris Heartwell
Kathleen Singh
Peggy Bender
Family of Ginnie Gould
TUESDAY (25) BULLETIN ITEMS DUE!
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Office Open
10:00AM-4:00PM
Thrifty Treasures
AA, Parlors
*Each month the congregations of the Grand West 7:30 PM-8:30 PM
GR Chamber Choir
Association, United Church of Christ will hold each 7:30 PM
other in prayer. This month we will pray for and on WEDNESDAY (26)
behalf of the congregation of St. Paul’s UCC—Grand 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Office Open
Haven. May God bless this congr egation and its 12:30 PM-3:30 PM
Bridge Club
leadership in ministry.
5:30 PM-6:15 PM
Practicing Meditation
6:30 PM
DISCIPLE Bible Study
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
Many of you know that Cathy (our office
administrator) sends a weekly e-blast on Friday
afternoons and also sends the monthly “Herald”
in the same way. If you are not receiving these
important electronic communications and would
like to be included on the list, please go to the
church website and subscribe to “Constant
Contact.” This is the easiest way to do this, since
we need to have your permission to add you to the
list.
HELPING HANDS
Need a ride to the doctor? Need a ride
to church on Sunday? Need meals
while recovering from surgery or
illness? “Helping Hands” may be able
to help you! Call Joy or Pat Murray at
455-0353.
THURSDAY (27)
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
9:30 AM-12:00 PM
12:30 PM-3:30 PM
7:30 PM-8:30 PM
Office Open
Golden K Kiwanis
Bridge Club
AA Meetings, Parlors
FRIDAY (28)
7:00 PM-10:00 PM
Bridge Club
SATURDAY (29)
PASTOR RUTH’S OFFICE HOURS
Pastor Ruth has set office hours most
Mondays from 10:00am-1:00pm and other
days/times by appointment. Please call ahead
for a visit! 616/245-0578
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Open Monday through Thursday
9am—3pm
For building access at other times, please call
during office hours and arrange a time with
Curtis Prussner.
10:30 a.m.
October 23, 2016
1005 Giddings Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI
P 616/245-0578 F 616/245-4481
[email protected]
www.eastchurchgr.org
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Empowering God's community to grow in faith through
worship, service, and learning at every age.”
-Vision Statement, adopted May, 2015
We Gather As God’s People
(Please prepare for worship by ending your conversations.)
PRELUDE
“Built on the Rock”
Gilbert Martin
GREETING (responsively)
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you. Amen.
LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH
We Prepare to Hear God’s Word
*CALL TO (responsively, from Psalm 25)
Leader: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be made.
People: You answer prayer! You choose the ones who will live near you.
Leader: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.
People: You answer us with deliverance. You are the hope of all the ends of the earth.
Leader: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.
People: By your strength you established the mountains; you crown the year with
your bounty.
Leader: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion. Your people shout and sing together for joy!
*HYMN
“In Christ There Is No East or West”
NCH 395
*Those who are able, please stand.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
**NCH - black The New Century Hymnal, PH– blue Pilgrim Hymnal
INVOCATION, PRAYER OF CONFESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)
God of new beginnings, new mindsets, new chapters; God of strength, of vulnerability,
of forgiveness—we gather in your presence. We live in a world that expects us to be
strong, but you ask us to be humble and repentant in your realm. May this time of
worship be a time that encourages us to become more open to your ways for forgiveness,
love, and hope.
Loving God, we come to you in the best times and in the worst times of our lives. We
confess that when life is good we forget that you are still part of our lives. But, when
times are hard, we selfishly call on you to help. We blame you or we blame others for
our mistakes. We push the hard practice of forgiveness aside because pardoning others
requires us to work within ourselves. Forgive us for holding onto resentment, and
avoiding the work of forgiveness. Help us to move into new life on a path of forgiveness.
SILENT PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
October 23, 2016
LIFE PLANNING SERIES
Hospice of Michigan provides care for all—regardless of age, diagnosis, or ability to pay. Because
they welcome those who are uninsured, or whose treatment is more expensive than what other hospices can offer, they can provide for the treatments, medications, services, grief support, and spiritual
care of patients and families in need.
Please join us at 9:15 today in the Fellowship Hall to have a conversation with a representative from
Metcalf Funeral Home.
ECCYG
Good morning, all! If you see some extra people walking around in jammies, be sure to
extend a warm welcome. ECCYG had their first Lock-In this weekend, extended an invitation
to area churches, and it was tons of fun. We made and ate pizza, popcorn, watched movies,
played games, had a scavenger hunt and, best of all, hosted a live band by the name of
Carpenter’s Cross. Lots of tired youth and adults today but so totally worth it!
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Remember to stop by the ECCYG Coffee Bar before church for coffee and bagels (brought to
you from Nantucket!).
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (responsively)
Leader: Our God forgives us again and again and wants us to experience the beauty of
forgiving others too. Let us embrace grace and extend that grace to all we meet.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Seventy times seven! Four hundred, ninety times to forgive! If you have a brother or a
sister, it’s not hard to imagine needing to do this so many times. But, we are told to do
this on behalf of those in the church, too. Forgive one another—the little disagreements,
the things we don’t understand, the big things, too—so that God’s church lives.
We Hear God’s Word
Forgiving God, we come to you hoping that you can help us learn to be a forgiving,
faithful people. We pray that we can remember your demand that we forgive so many
times that we can hardly count. We pray, for our families, our communities, our country,
and our church, that forgiveness might bring a sense of well-being and goodness for all.
TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
Children ages 3 to 5th grade are dismissed to Sunday School.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Luke 18:9-14
Matthew 18, selected verses
Sung Response
Page 853
Page 799
“Gloria”
NCH 756
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
SERMON
“Be The Church: Forgive Often”
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald
Amen.
INTERIM MUSIC DIRECTOR
Our organist today is Carol Rienstra. Thank you, Carol, for joining us today! Carol asked that
we announce this: All are welcome to a free Restorative Justice program on Tuesday, October
25, 7 p.m. at Eastern Ave Christian Reformed Church, 514 Eastern Ave. - "The Final Chapter
of WWII" with Rex and Keiko Ziak of the OBON Society (www.obonsociety.org), a nonprofit humanitarian movement dedicated to the pursuit of reconciliation by returning to families in Japan the personal honor flags taken by Americans from Japanese soldiers' bodies.
See http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-flags-of-their-fathers/.
VIRGINIA “GINNIE” GOULD’S SERVICE
Ginnie’s funeral service will be held tomorrow at 1:30 in the Klise Chapel. Family will greet visitors
in the hour preceding the service.
We Respond to God’s Word
No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
WELCOME TO ALL! We’re glad you’ve chosen to worship with us. Visit our church website at
www.eastchurchgr.org to hear past ser mons. Audio CDs of the wor ship service are available by calling the
church office during regular business hours.
HEARING DEVICE OPTIONS 1) You may ask an usher in the nar thex for headphones to connect with
the church amplification. After worship, leave the headsets on the end of the pew. 2) If you have a “t” cell on
your hearing aid, switch to that setting to be connected to the loop system.
*HYMN
NURSERY CARE is available in the Noah’s Ark room on the second floor above the main office for children
up to age 3.
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND TITHES
Please sign in and pass the Friendship Roster to your neighbors in the pew. Loose change
placed in the offering plates will support our Sunday School offerings—their recipients will
be decided by the children.
SERVING US TODAY
PARTICIPATING NEXT WEEK
October 23, 2016
October 30, 2016
Liturgist:
Kim Slupe
Nursery:
J enn Hoye
Soundboard: Bill Otten
Ushers:
Sue Rober t & Anne Miller
Greeter/Receptionist: Katie Bolt
Coffee Hour: Needed
Acolytes:
Andr ew Kenwor thy
Spencer McClure
Liturgist:
Needed
Nursery:
J enn Hoye
Soundboard: Needed
Ushers:
Kr isten Haas, Anne Miller
Greeter/Receptionist: Rigober to & Stephanie
Rodriguez
Coffee Hour: Mission Boar d
Acolytes:
Needed
“Come O Spirit Dwell Among Us”
NCH 267
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
OFFERTORY
“Wonderful Words of Life”
Arr. by Wilbur Held
*DOXOLOGY (unison)
NCH 780
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison)
Ever-present God, with this offering we present also ourselves, all that we have been, all
that we are, all that we shall become, and our resolve to walk in your way. Accept us
and our offering we pray. Amen.
*HYMN
“O My Soul, Bless Your Creator”
NCH 13
We Are Sent Into God’s World
*BENEDICTION
All music in this bulletin is printed with permission
under OneLicense.net, license A-711772.
_____________________
1005 Giddings Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
phone (616) 245-0578
fax (616) 245-4481
[email protected]
www.eastchurchgr.org
Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald, Pastor
BULLETIN DEADLINE
[email protected]
Noon every Tuesday.
Bren Elliott, Youth Ministr ies Leader
[email protected]
Stephanie Rodriguez, Dir ector of Chr istian Education
[email protected]
Cathy Thomas, Office Administr ator
[email protected]
Curtis Prussner, Custodian
[email protected]
POSTLUDE
“A Mighty Fortress (Ein' feste Burg)”
Friedrich W. Marpurg
________________________________________________________
Today’s liturgy was inspired by liturgy written and shared by the Rev. Michelle L. Torigan and the Rev. Nicolette Siragusa for the “Be The Church” series.
All are invited to coffee hour in the parlors immediately following the worship service.